millee



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. G. MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR VULGANIZING RUBBER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. No. 332,408. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

B1 1, E JZ II|| |I (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. H. C. MILLER.

APPARATUS FOR VULGANIZING RUBBER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

HERBERT O. MILLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR VULCANlZlNG RUBBER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,408, dated December 15, 1885.

Application filed July13, 1885. Serial No. 171,439.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern: der most conditions where vulcanite can be Be it known that I, HERBERT O. MILLER, usedas, for instance, in the manufacture of a citizen of the United States, residing at the plates for artificial teethcelluloid may also 5 city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have be used to advantage, so that the operator who 5 inventedcertain new and useful Improvements works one material is frequently called upon in the construction of vulcanizing apparatus to work the other. The conditions precedent for vulcanizing rubber compound and other to the successful workingv of the two articles vulcanizable gums and compounds for artidiffer materially. For instance, vulcanite is 60 ficial teeth and other purposes, which appar best produced under steam pressure in a to ratns by simple readjustment forms a comclosed chamber from the plastic material, plete press for molding celluloid and other while celluloid is best worked in a chamber pressible vegetable and other compounds; and practically unsealed, and is shaped by pressure I do hereby declare that the following is a full while gradually softened by dry heat. In the 6 5 and exact description of the construction and case of a vulcanizer it is desirable that the operation of the same, reference being had to boiler or flaskchamber cover be made practithe accompanying drawings, making a part of cally steam-tight by means of the simplest this specification, and of which form which will enable the cover to be readily Figure 1 is an elevation of a vulcanizer, porapplied and removed; also, that the construc- 7c tions of the skirt or outer case being broken tion, while being as simple and inexpensive away to show the boiler. Fig. 2 is a vertical as possible, shall insure sufficient strength in section of the same, showing the arrangement the boiler to resist all probable internal steamof the parts when used as a vulcanizer, with a pressure; and to accomplish this I provide a flask in position on the false bottom. Fig. 3 series of threaded bolts,which pass through the 7 5 is a top View of the vulcanizer, showing the boilercover and enter a false bottom arranged arrangement of the bolts by means of which within the boiler, said false bottom being conand the false bottom the cover of the vulcanfined by lugs or projections within the boiler. izer is clamped on the boiler. Fig. 4 isahori- For greater security, the bolts may be of zontal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, showing metal which expands less than the boiler mathe false bottom arranged below the lugs or terial for the same degree of heat, which will 0 projections on the interior of the boiler. Fig. cause the joint between the cover and boiler 5 is a detached plan view of the false bottom. to become tighter as the temperature rises. Fig. 6 is an edge or side view of the same. In the case of a eelluloid-press it is not essen- Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the steam tial or even desirable that the joint between 8 vent or escape and of the safety devices to rethe cover and chamber (or boiler) be tight;

55 lieve the boiler or vulcanizer from undue consequently I make the false bottom of the steam pressure. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of boiler detachable, so that it may be moved the devices, showing the false bottom relieved above the lugs on the interior of the boiler, from and placed above the lugs on the interior and used in conjunction with the cover and of the boiler, so as to act in conjunction with threaded bolts as a. press, which hangs sus' 0 the boiler-cover to form a press for shaping pended from the cover within the boiler or celluloid. In this view the dotted lines indiheating-chamber. The application of these cate the flask containing the celluloid. the two main features of my invention is eX- Like letters refer to like parts wherever they emplified in the drawings, which also illuso5 occur. trate minor details of peculiar value in a vul- 5 My present invention relates to the construccanizer, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

tion of vulcanizers commonly employed by I will now proceed to describe my invendentists and. for like purposes, and has in tion more fully, so that others skilled in the View a twofold object: first, the improveart to which it appertains may apply the same. 103 ment of the vulcanizer itself as a vulcanizer; In the drawings, A indicates the boiler; 13,

5o secondly, such a construction of the vulcanizer the cover thereof, and O the outer case or skirt as will adapt it for use as a celluloid-press. for confining the heat. The boiler A or flask- It is now a well-understood thing that unchamber is provided on its interior at intervals and a short distance above its bottom with a series of lugs or projections, 11, for confining a false bottom, D, and may be finished above with a plain lip or rim, b, for the reception of the cover B, or an interposed packingring, 0, if the same is deemed desirable.

D indicates a false bottom of the general shape and area of a cross-section of the interior of the boiler in the plane of the lugs or pro- 1 o jections a,or slightly less,so that when dropped into the boiler with the recesses d registering wit-h thelugs a the false bottom D will freely pass the lugs a and rest on the bottom of the chamber A. The distance between the bottom ofthe chamber or boiler A and the under side of lugs a must'be sufficient to allow the false bottom D to be rotated, so as to bring projecting portions 6 of the false bottom beneath the lugs a on the interior of the boiler, in which position the false bottom it ill be prevented from rising by the lugs a. In the projections e of the false bottom are threaded bolt-holes f, and in the lugs or projections a, on the interior of the boiler A or flask-chamber,are nicks g, and these two may be caused to register when the false bottom is rotated by means of projections h on the false bottom, or, if preferred, on the under side of lugs or project-ions a,which lugs prevent the rotation of the false bottom too far around.

The nicks g and projections h are not essential, but are desirable and advantageous, as when the parts are arranged as a vulcanizer they look them rigid and prevent the accidental rotation of the false bottom and the loosening of the cover 13.

13 indicates the cover, which also forms the upper member or platen of the press when plates of celluloid are to be shaped. The under surface of the cover has by preference a recess for the reception of the rim of the boiler A, and (when used) a packing-ring, c; also,at regular intervals certain bolt-holes for the passage of threaded bolts 1, a cup, t, for the bulb of the thermometer T, and a steameseape pipe, S. The space within the cupt surrounding the bulb of the thermometer T may be packed with copper filings or equivalent material, which will readily convey the heat to the bulb, while serving as a packing to protect the bulb. Connected with the steamescape pipe S are the vent and safety devices (shown in section, Fig. 7) for the apparatus when used as a vulcanizer. Generally stated, these devices consist of two nuts, L and M, the first or vent nut, L, fitting directly on the end of the steam-pipe S, and provided with ventports 1), which are opened and closed by screwing the nut up and down on the pipe S. Between the vent-nut L and the end of pipeS a small packing-ring, Z, may be placed to insure a tight joint when required. The'upper end of vent-nut L is threaded for the reception of the cap-nut M, and over the bore of ventnut L (which may be contracted, as at I, if desired) is placed a thin sheet, m, of copper or equivalent metal, which is confined by the perforated cap-nut M. The thickness and character of the sheet m are to be such that it will be ruptured by any excess of steampressure in the boiler, and the steam can then. escape through the perforated cap nut M. If preferred, the cap-nut M and the thin safetysheet m may be omitted, and a pressure-gage of the class commonly employed with Vulcan izers may be screwed on the perforated ventnut L. The character of such steam-pressure gage is so well understood that it is not deemed necessary to show or describe it, but simply to indicate its attachment to the vent-' nut L. In order to open the vents c, all that is necessary is to turn the vent-nut L.

I indicates the threaded bolts, which serve t not only to secure the cover B in position on the boiler A when the apparatus is used as a vulcanizer, but also as the screws of the press (of which the false bottom D may be considered the bed, and B the platen, or vice versa) when the devices are used as a celluloid-press.

It will be noted that in Fig. 2 a set of long bolts threaded only at one end is shown, while in Fig. 8 a short set threaded nearly half the length is shown. A s a matter of convenience, it is sometimes desirable to have the two sets, but it is not an essential, as the long bolts may have the threads extended as far as desired. Moreover, the bolts may be reversed, if desired-that is to say, may have key-heads extending through slots in the false bottom D, with the threaded ends projecting through the cover B, and provided with nuts which occnpy the places of the bolt-heads z of Fig. 2. However, the construction shown is preferred, and washers may be used between the boltheads t' and the cover 13 to make tight joints, if desired.

By preference the boiler or chamber A,

cover B, and false bottom D will be of copper, I

brass, or equivalent material, while the bolts I will be of iron or steel, so that the difference of expansion under given increments of heat will always insure a tight joint between the cover B and boilerA When the appaiatus is used as a Vulcanizer.

The devices being substantially of the character hereinbefore set forth, will be employed as follows: In order to use the apparatus as a vulcanizer, the false bottom D is inserted in the boiler A, with its projections e alternating with the projections a on the interior of the boiler, allowed to drop below said lugs a, and then rotated until its movement is arrested by lugs 71, which will bring the threaded boltholes f in register with nicks g of the lugs a on the interior of the boiler. The requisite amount of water, but not enough to. rise above false bottom D, is then poured into the boiler, the flasks containingthe rubber to be vulcanized are placed or piled on the false. bottom D, the cover B is placed on the boiler A so that its bolt-holes will register with the nicks D. As the false bottom is held down by lugs a, and therefore cannot rise, it follows that as the bolts I are screwed up the cover B will be forced down and held tightly against the rim 1) of boiler A, and a tight joint is thus obtained by simple means. The vent-nut L is screwed down to close the vent-ports v, and the thin sheet-metal safety-disk in (when used) is held in place by screwing down the cap-nut M. If a steamgage is used,it takes the place of safetydisk m and cap-nut M, as before specified. Heat is applied to the boiler, and the vulcanization is accomplished in the usual manner. As the heat increases the difference in expansion between the bolts and the boiler and cover will insure a perfect steam-joint between the boiler and cover.

WVhen the vulcanizing process is completed, the vent-nut L may be turned to unclose the vents o and permit the escape of steam from the boiler A.

In order to use the apparatus as a celluloidpress for shaping celluloid plates and other articles, the bolts I are first withdrawn from the false bottom D and the cover B removed. The false bottom D is then reversely rotated until the lugs 6 thereof can pass the intervals between the lugs a on the interior of the boiler A. The false bottom is then lifted out of the boiler, or above the lugs to thereof, and the bolts I again inserted, as shown in Fig. 8, when the flasks containing the celluloid plates can be placed on the false bottom D and between it and the cover. The false bottom D is then replaced in the boiler, (or the hot oven, as it now becomes,) and is suspended therein by the cover B resting on the rim of the boiler. As the celluloid becomes plastic under the gradually -increasing heat the screws I are gradually rotated to draw the false bottom nearer the cover B, so that the flasks which are held between cover B and false bottom D are gradually closed, as in a press.

The advantages arising from my invention are, first, the simple and effective manner in which the connection between the boiler and its cover is made and maintained,- secondly, the simplicity and effectiveness of the combination of vent and safety devices of the vulcanizer, and, thirdly, the ease with which the arrangement of the apparatus can be changed V to adapt it for use either as a vulcanizer or a celluloidpress.

I do not herein claim the safety-disk, as the samelis not of my invention; but,

Having thus set forth the nature, operation, and advantages of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vulcanizer, the combination, with a boiler having a false bottom secured therein, of a detachable cover and bolts which connect the cover with the fixed false bottom of the boiler, substantially as and for the'purposes specified.

2. In a vulcanizer, the combination, with a boiler having a false bottom secured therein, of a detachable cover and bolts for connecting the cover with the false bottom of the boiler, said bolts being of a metal of a less expansible character than the boiler for given increments of heat, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a combined vulcanizer and celluloidpress, the combination of aboiler having lugs on its interior for securing a false bottom, a detachable false bottom, a cover, and threaded bolts for connecting the cover and false bot tom, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a vulcanizer, the combination, with the steam-escape pipe, of a vent-nut having an axial orifice and lateral vents, and adapted for the attachment of a steam-pressure gage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a vulcanizer, the combination, with the steam-escape pipe, of a vent-nut having an axial orifice and lateral vents, and a perforated cap-nut adapted to secure a thin sheet of metal over the axial orifice of the vent-nut, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HERBERT C. MILLER.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. BENDER, DUNCAN BROWN. 

